REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 8, 2007 – 7:00 p.m.
The governing body of the City of Coldwater met in regular session with the following present: Mayor Ethan Hauptman, presiding, Council members Penny Bruckner, Chuck Salisbury, Tony Smith, Tiffany Sowa and Richard Thompson, Public Works Director Danny Shaw, Water Operator, Joe Ceballos, City Attorney Skip Herd, City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, City Marshal Doug Storie, Lake Manager, Ron White and Lake Assistant Manager, Michelle Moore.
Guests present included Guy Stearman, Glenda Hallett, Ken Pitzer.
Mayor Hauptman called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes were approved as written, motion by Tiffany Sowa, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
Guy Stearman made a request to the city council that they consider putting in a sewer main in the alley behind his rental house at 408 E. Maple, he indicated there is not adequate sewer drainage and it has been very costly for him to have to clean up. Glenda Hallett, who is renting the house, told the council that the house has flooded a few times since she’s lived there and has had to change out the carpet, along with other items. Danny Shaw explained to the council that there are three homes in that neighborhood that are tied in to the city sewer from the same private septic tank and the private line, which is only a four inch line, was plugged and was causing the sewer problems in that neighborhood. Mayor Ethan Hauptman told Guy Stearman that the city will look into putting a sewer main in that neighborhood.
Ken Pitzer, minister of the South Central Baptist Church and representing the Coldwater Ministerial Alliance, asked the council for permission to hold church at the lake on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays for the months of June through September. They would like to use the small shelter on the west side of the lake. A motion was made by Tony Smith to allow the request made by Ken Pitzer, Penny Bruckner seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Mayor Hauptman had a trailer parking permit application from Norman Sherman for approval. Richard Thompson made a motion to approve the application to allow Norman to park his RV on the street by his home, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Motion was made by Tony Smith and seconded by Penny Bruckner to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License renewal for Convenience Plus. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Richard Thompson and seconded by Tiffany Sowa to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License renewal for K&B’s. Motion carried.
Marshal Doug Storie gave a report of his activities for the past month. He reported that he has had the windshield wiper motor replaced in the patrol car and has ordered some new uniform shirts and a finger printing kit for use in the field or office to take fingerprints for booking purposes. Marshal Storie asked the council that the city pay for his uniform cleaning expenses, he said his wife could launder the uniforms, but he would like to have a professional pressing done. He gave prices of what the Coldwater Laundry would charge: $3.50 per pair of pants and $2.25 per shirt. The council did not approve the cleaning expenses at this time. Marshal Storie also reported that he has a new desktop computer in his office and he’s working on getting networked with the KBI to submit reports electronically. Councilmember, Penny Bruckner, asked the Marshal when they should expect to be reimbursed for the computer by the grant he has received from the state. He said he has to send in the receipt for the computer in order to be reimbursed and it will be a reimbursement of 75% with the City paying for 25% of the costs. Marshal Storie made a request to the council that the abandoned canoe found by the city crew at the lake, be donated to the scouts or be able to be used by the local scouting groups. The council did not give the Marshal an answer either way.
City Attorney Skip Herd reported he has the three city owned properties ready to send in to the state and the process should be completed. Skip reported on Jeff Levering’s request to have horses on his property in the city limits, after researching ordinances, found it is zoned R-4 and R-2 and does allow for horses to be kept. Skip also wanted to inform the council of an article written in “Lawrence Journal World” from a reporter telling that there is nothing to offer in Coldwater. He recommended the council write a letter to the editor telling what Coldwater does have to offer.
Mayor Ethan Hauptman proposed the council go into executive session for 30 minutes. Tiffany Sowa made the motion to go into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss personnel matters, seconded by Penny Bruckner. Motion carried. After returning to open meeting, no action was taken from the executive session.
Water Operator Joe Ceballos reported on the budgets for the park, pool and water. After review, Chuck Salisbury made a motion to approve the Emergency Water Supply Plan, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried. Joe told the council they need to be thinking about what to do with the old water tower, which is still in use. Joe said the tower was shut off for a week last summer to see if anyone noticed a difference in the water pressure, and no difference was reported. The council asked Joe to get costs of taking it down and costs of keeping it in use and bring back to the next meeting. They also recommended asking Pixius Communications if they would want to buy it for use of their antennae. Joe also reported on a proposal from Cunningham Sandblasting of Joplin, Missouri offering an extended warranty on the new water tower’s interior paint at a cost of $1,825.00 every two years, taking no action on the matter. The council instructed Joe to get with Larry Ellis on flushing the fire hydrants.
Public Works Supervisor, Danny Shaw reported that a decision is to be made on which bid to go with on heating the small room of the veteran’s building. After discussion, Tony Smith made a motion to go with the CMS bid of $1,915.10 to move one of two heating units to the small room, the motion was seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried. Discussion was held on the earlier problem discussed with Guy Stearman about his sewer line. Danny estimated the costs to be around $2,000.00 to install the sewer line and one manhole and could be started on sometime next week. The council told him to go ahead and proceed with the project. Danny also reported he would like to buy a piece of measuring equipment to measure sewer lines in town at a cost of about $400.00. The council agreed. Danny informed the council that he had priced a chain line fence for the gun range at $9,000.00, and was not looking for a decision at this time, but just wanted them to know for their information. Danny also informed the council that he may need to do some work on the septic tank near the entrance of the lake. After discussing the problem, Tony Smith made a motion to approve new laterals and tank if it is needed, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. Danny asked the council about the mowing and maintenance at the ball fields at the lake. After a discussion was held, the council wants Danny to ask Jack Sooter if he would have time to maintain it along with the parks then wait and see who will be the recreation director for the summer and work the mowing out with them. Danny passed around sewer and water rates that he and the city clerk have put together from other cities, for the council to review, with the idea of raising the rates. Council member Tiffany Sowa told the council that the Coldwater sewer rates are about half of what the state average rates are and pointed out that the city could be facing some major sewer repair costs in the future. The rates were tabled until the next meeting.
Penny Bruckner made a motion to go into executive session for 30 minutes, seconded by Tony Smith and the motion carried. After the executive session, no action was taken.
A proposed lake fee increase was reviewed by the council. With discussion held, Penny Bruckner made a motion, seconded by Chuck Salisbury, for the lake fees to be increased as follows: Annual season pass - $15.00 with $5.00 each for a second and third permit; Boat permit - $75.00 and includes one vehicle permit; Jet ski permit - $75.00 and includes one vehicle permit; 3 day pass on boats & jet ski - $25.00; Camping fee per night with hookups - $15.00; Camping fee per night for tents (no hookups) - $10.00; Small shelter rent - $25.00; Large shelter rent - $40.00; Monthly camping - $225.00; Monthly camping including sewer hookup - $250.00. Further discussion was held on doing away with the 3-day lake pass. Tony Smith made a motion to do away with the 3-day pass, seconded by Richard Thompson. The motion carried, with Penny Bruckner voting against the motion. Camper Ron Elder from Medicine Lodge was in attendance and the council asked his opinion of the new rates. He agreed with the new rates, saying the proposed rates would have been a little high and might have lost campers, but didn’t think people would have a problem with the rates that were set. City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, asked the council if they wanted to set the last two weeks in January for the 30% discount of all lake permits as has been done in years’ past. The council decided on January 17th through January 31st for the 30% discount of all lake permits, asking Dennis Anderson to advertise it once in the Western Star.
Council member, Tony Smith asked the council their opinion on building another 10 water front camping sites on the north west side of the lake, noting the cost to be around $11,000.00 and would pay for themselves in one season. After discussion was held, Tony Smith made a motion to add 10 new water front camp sites on the north west side of the lake at an approximate cost of $11,000.00, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
Mayor Hauptman brought to the attention of the council that the school had gone over budget with construction of the Prairie Plaza building by about $550.00 and he had even canceled the insulation and “osb” board they had ordered to go into the building.
Bills in the amount of $130,560.95 were presented for payment. Tony Smith moved to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Tiffany Sowa. Motion carried.
No further business was presented. Tony Smith moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Penny Bruckner. Motion carried.